Opera-chair



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

B. SHUPE.

OPERA CHAIR.

Patented Sept. 29, 1885 w (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

E. SHUPE.

OPERA CHAIR. No. 327,026. Patented Sept. 29, 1885.

F I j 1 F NINE-Milli N PETERS. Phntwumo n mr, Washinghn. 11c.

times Sra'rns ATENT trio 1* ELI SIIUPE, OF RAGINE, \VISOONSIN.

OPERA-CHAlR.

EiPECIFICAT-EQZJ forming part of Letters Patent No. 327,026, dated September 29, 1885.

Application filed May 31, 1884. (No model.)

To (LZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELI SHUPE, residing at Racine, in the county of Racine and State of \Visconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Opera Chairs, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to opera-chairs of the class in which the seat and back fold together.

My invention consists in certain improvements in construction of the standard by which the position of the seat with reference to the stage may be determined; also, in the mechanism by which each arm-supporting bar or brace is held in position; also, in the connection of the arms with the seat and back; also, in certain details of construction, as hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the chair in position for use. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the chair folded up. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the chair. Fig. 4 is a face View of the top of the floorstandard. Fig. 5 is an edge view of the standard-joint. Fig. 6 is a face view of thejoint-plate of top standard. Fig. 7 is a top or plan view of one of the arms, the back-support being shown in section. Fig. 8 is a bottom view on line as m, Fig. 1, the parts being thrown apart to more clearly illustrate. Fig. 9 is a plan section of Fig. 3. Fig. 10 is a similar view of two seats arranged radially with reference to the stage.

A represents the floor-standard, which is preferably of cast'iron, and may be strong, light, and ornamental. Two of these standards are secured to the floor, and may be connected by cross-bar B, or said bar may be omitted. The top of said standard has afaceplate, 0, which may have a raised rim, D, and in this rim shallow grooves E form bearings for a rib on the faceplate of the top standard. The floor-standards may be cast so as to duplicate each other.

F represents the top standard, which has a face-plate, G, at its lower extremity and a light fin or projection, H, across the face of said plate. This [in projects far enough to form a bearing when it enters the grooves E in the face-plate O, and holds the face-plate G from contact with the plate G, but permits a rocking of one plate with reference to the other, so that the face-plates need not be parallel. The two sides of the faceplate are alike, and an indefinite number of floor-standards may be arranged in series. By arranging the standards on the arcs of circles, the seats may be similarly placed, (see Fig. 10,) the space between the plates of the top and floor standards permitting such arrangement.

A screw or bolt at U serves to secure the top standard and floor standard together. The top standard terminates in a bearing, F, for the arm L. The top standard, F, has a projection or offset, I, at one side, which offset I has a projection, I", which serves as a pivot for the seat. The standard F has also a boss,l'', and a projecting pin,I, which serves as a pivot for the back.

The back-support, M, is pivoted to the projection I", and has a curved slot, M, through which a pin or bolt, L',in the arm passes, the pin being free to move in the slot when permitted by the movement of the arm so to do.

The arm L is pivotally secured to the top of standard F. The arm is preferably composed of two bars, with a filling-piece, but a single bar may be used. The front of the arm has a link, N, pivoted thereto, which link extends down and is pivotally connected to the seat.

The seatpiece O is preferably a light casting having holes for the pivotal pins; or it may have projecting pins. and the holes may be in the standard and link. The seat-piece is pivoted to the pin 1 on the top standard, so that its front end may turn upward, but will be prevented from turning downward by coming in contact with the seat-support M.

A plate, I which may lnwe a slight elasticity, has at one end a small boss or projection, P, which enters a recess in projection I. At the other end said plate has a projec tion, P on which the link N pivots.

A screw or bolt, Q. which enters piece 0, serves to draw the plate P firmly against the projection I and the link N, and thus serves to hold the top standard, link, and seat piece firmly together; and by the elasticity of this plate I the bearing on projection I may be regulated, so that the scat may be held by friction in any position in which it may be swung.

The chair-back R is secured between the supports M,and the seat S between seat-pieces O by screws, screw-bolts, or in other convenient manner.

A curved, wire or bar, T, having its ends seated 'in the edges of the chair-back, forms a convenient hat-rack,which will be against the back of the seat in the position shown, but may be slightly swung out, and the brim of the hat slipped under the bar, as shown in dotted lines.

The operation of the device will be understood from the drawings. When the chairis in position for use, as in Fig. 1, the seat is supported at three points-via, on the pivot 1 against the seat-support M,and by the link N. The arm is supported by its pivot to the top standard and by pin L in top of slot M in back-support M, and thus serves to support the seat in part by means of link N. The baelg-support has a bearing on its pivot I, and is held from falling backwardby pin L,passing through its slot M.

When the chair is to be folded up, the front of the seat is lifted. This lifts the front of the armsby means of link N, and the movement ofpin L down the curved slot M serves to turn the back toward the seat, the amount of such movement being determined by the curved slot, The operation will be the same if one link be omitted.

Itwill be understood that the standards, arms, seat-supports, back-supports, andlinks are either duplicates of each other or right and left parts orfellows. The floor-standards may all be facsimiles. If the floor is inclined, this is compensated for by making one leg of the standard shorter than the other. By the rolling adjustment permitted by the bar and groove on the face-plates of the floor and top standards an arrangement of the seats in straight or curved lines may be effected, the floorstandards being secured to the floor by screws or nailsin such position as to effect this.

I claim- 1. The combination, with the floor-standards, of the top standards pivoted thereto and. the back and seat pivotally connected to said top standards.

2. The combination, with the standards, of the slotted back-support and seat-pieces pivoted to said standards, the arms pivoted to the top of said standards, a link connecting the front of the arm with the seat, and apin from the arm extending into the slot in the backsupport, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the floor-standards A A, of the top standards, F F, pivoted thereto, the arms pivoted at the top of said top standard, and the seat and slotted back-supports pivoted at the bottom of said top stand ard, the links connecting the front of the arms to the seat, and the pins connecting the rear of the arms to the slotted back-snpports, all substantially as described.

4:. The combination, with the floorstandards A, of the pivoted top standards, F, the seat and slotted back-supports pivoted to said top standards, and the arms pivoted to the top of said standards Rand having pins extending ELI SHUPE.

WVitnesses:

CHARLES BROTHERTON, L. W. KILBOURN. 

